Poration



June 3 1924 P. J. HUNT FEELER MECHANISM FOR LooMs Filed Nov. 9, I922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June 3, 1924. 1,496,640

P. J. HUNT FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS .Filed Nov. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWWMM MENTOR ATTO RNEY Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. HUNT, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COR- POBATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed November 9, 1922. Serial No. 599,936.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New Bedford, inthe county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to ieeler mechanisms for looms through the instrumentality ot'which the fillingin the shuttle is replenished prior to complete exhaustion while the loom continues to run.

Feeler mechanisms of various types have heretofore been contrived mainly with a view of insuring, on the one hand, a complete shot of filling in the shed on the last flight of the shuttle prior to replenishment, and a minimum amount of waste on the ejected filling carrier. In one type of such mechanisms, such as shown and described in the Edward S. Stimpson Patent, No. 1,309,226, the feeler is mounted for movement in' a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure upon it to call the change when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted but prior to complete exhaustion. To hold the feeler' from movement longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat when a working supply oi' filling is contained within the shuttie, the feeler has heretofore been provided with teeth which engage and penetrate more or less the filling mass. This recurring contact and penetration of the filling by the teeth of the feeler on each detecting beat is liable to injure the filling and cause defective cloth to be woven, which is observable in the form of spots or zones particularly in some kinds of cloth. It has heretofore been proposedto avoid injury to the filling by providing the feeler with a yieldmg or non-metallic tip without teeth, but in such cases the feeler has been mounted to extend rearwardly at right angles to the 1011- gitudinal axis of the shuttle and was locked in this position until unlocked by depletion of the filling and was then moved sidewisc byspring or other means. Such feelers, theretore,.were of the measuring type and although the r'eeler would be moved laterally to call the change, such movement was tially exhausted.

dependent on freeing the feeler by measuring the diameter of the filling :in theshuttle either by-the feeler or the relation of the feeler and its locking means with the resulting liability of objectionable waste 1 of I f (it) One of the objects of the present inven,-' tion, therefore, is toprovide a feeler mecha nism having a side-swipe feele r provided with an untoothed tip which engages and is frictionally held by the filling from partaking of its recurring tendency to move longitudinally of the shuttle on each detecting beat without injurious effect upon the filling. The untoothed tip has a smooth fill ing engaging surface which sinks ,into the mass of filling without penetration, and a further object is to provide an auxiliary tip which will be called into action andwill engage the filling with positive holdin case the smooth untoothed tip fails to do so and] the feeler starts along the filling longitudinally of the shuttle.

The various features of the invention, its novel characteristlcs and combination of.

parts will be better understood from the following description and accompanying drawings of one good practical embodiment more particularly the operation of the feeler mechanism when, on a detecting beat. a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle and the untoothed feeler tip holds the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig.2

but showing the operation of the teeter mechanism when the untoothed tip of the feeler fails to hold the feeler from move" ment longitudinally of the shuttle while still there is sufiici'ent filling to continue weaving; and h Fig. i is a plan view with parts'broken away, showing the feeler having been moved in a direction longitudinally ofthe shuttle to call the change, the filling being substan- In the drawings, the loom trame 1 has mounted thereon mechanism called into op eration by movement of the feeler longitudinal'ly of the shuttle to efiect replenishment of filling when the filling is substantially exhausted. As shown, the loom frame 1 has the brackets 2, one at each side of the loom, but only one being shown, and each is provided with a bearing 3 for the usual transverse or rock shaft 4:. Secured to and rising from the rock shaft is the arm 5 to which the actuator 6 is connected at 7. In

accordance with. the present invention, the

actuator 6. will be moved frontwardly when the feeler calls the change and will cause the rock shaft 4: to be rocked to effect the replenishment of filling, in a manner well understood by those skilledin the art. The replenishing mechanism is not shown because details thereof are well understood andthey form no part of the present inven t-ion.

the present instance, the actuator 6 has an portion 8 pivoted to the actuator at 9, :a-ndthe frontward extending end thereof is normally out of the path of movement of an 'operating member 11 which may be formed-aspart of or connected to the usual cam follower. Pivotally connected to a bracket 12 secured to the loom frame at 13 is a" bell" crank lever 14: the end 15 of which underlies a finger 16 extending from the part 8. The bell crank lever 1 1 is connected toatrarismitter 17 which in turn is actuated by the feeler to turn the bell crank lever lgt 'contra clockwise when the feeler calls the change.

]"Mounted on the shipper stand 18 is a bracket 19 to which is adjustably secured the-feeler stand '20 by means of a bolt21 which may pass through a slot 22 formed in the feeler stand. The bracket 19 may be "adjustablv secured to the shipper stand 18 by; the'b'o'lt The feeler is shown as of the lnclined sideswipe type; that is, it is mounted to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and may be, except as herein after described, substantially the same as shownand described in the Stimpson Patent, No. 1,309,226.

stand is a later'ally movable slide 27 in a suitable guideway or bearing 28 formed on or secured to'the feeler stand, and to one end portion 29 of the slide 27 is connected the .transniitter'17 The slide 27'has an opening throughwhich the feeler 26 extends with permissive *movement laterally to a normal extent as the feeler is moved frontwar'dly and partakes of its normal swinging movementabout the axis of the bearing block 25, the feeler being held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the filling as the lay beats up. A spring 31 interposed between the bridge 32 to which the feeler is secured and the bearing block 25 normally acts to hold the feeler in its rearward feeling position. All the parts thus far described may be constructed and arranged substantially the same as the corresponding parts in the Stimpson patent hereinbefore mentioned. 1

The lay 33 is of the usual character and is provided with the shuttle box 3 1, the front wall 35 of which is provided with an opening 36 through which the feeler may pass when the lay moves frontwardlyona detecting beat.

The shuttle 37 is of usual type and ispro- I vided with an opening in its side wall 38 which registers with the opening 36 in the front wall of the shuttle box whenthe shuttle comes to rest in the box, the construction being such that the feeler may pass through the coinciding openings in the front-wall of eroid, and the filling engaging end of the tip 11 is untoothed to present to the filling engaged by it a smooth non-injurious contact.

Theengaging face or surface 42 0f the untoothed feeler tip 41 is curved in anarc longitudinally of the shuttleand the tip 41 is secured to the feeler 26 in the present-"instance by a pin or bolt 4-3. The construction is such that when a working-supply of filling is in the shuttle on a detectingbeat the untoothed smooth engaging surface of the feeler tip contacts with the filling and is caused to sink into the filling mass to 1a qslight extent by the 'frontward pressure against it and thereby normally hold the feeler from movement longitudinally along the filling by frictional engagement therewith.

By the construction andarrangeinentdescribed, the feeler may be advantageously...

employed with various characters of filling, either cotton, wool or silk, without injurious effect upon the filling, as mayoccur when filling engaging teeth of filling penetrating members are earned by the Ieeler tip.

To effectively guard against premature,

movement of the feeler longitudinally along the filling on a detecting beat and to positively hold the feeler from such movement When a sufiicient mass of filling is not contained in the shuttle to permit the smooth untoothed feeler tip to sink into the filling, an auxiliary feeler tip is employed in accordance with the present invention. The auxiliary feeler tip comes into action and positivel engages the filling with holding contact should the smooth untoothed or main tip of the feeler fail to frihtionally hold the feeler from such movement.

The auxiliary feeler tip 44 is mounted upon and moves with the feeler. As shown, it comprises the threaded stem 45 which passes through a lug 46 extending from the feeler and is held in adjusted position by the nuts47, the construction being such that the auxiliary feeler tip may be adjusted relatively to the main untoothed feeler tip. The rear end portion 48 of the auxiliary feeler tip is provided with a series of teeth 49 which if they engage the filling will penetrate it sufliciently to effect a positive hold and prevent movement of the feeler in a directionlongitudinally of the shuttle.

When a working supply of filling is presentin the shuttle on adetecting beat, as indicated in Fig. 2, the main untoothed and non-metallic feeler tip 41 will engage the filling and effect frictional hold therewith by sinking to a more or less extent into the filling mass and normally hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle. Under suohnormal working conditions the toothed end portion of the auxiliary feeler tip does not engage the filling, or if such engagement occurs in any particular case, the teeth do not injuriously affect the fillingbeoause they do not penetrate, being held from such penetration or injurious contact by the already engaged smooth surface of the non-metallic untoothed feeler tip 41. Should, however, the untoothed feeler tip 41 fail to hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttleon a detecting beat, the feeler will start along the filling, and thereby bring into action the auxiliary feeler tip the teeth of which will effect a positive hold upon the filling and restrain the feeler from any further movement or movement sufficient to call a change.

l/Vhen the filling in the shuttle approaches substantial exhaustion and there is not sufficient filling in the shuttle to permit the un toothed non-metallic feeler tip from sinking into the filling with a frictional hold thereon, the feeler will start to move longitudinally along the filling from the dotted line position, Fig. 2, to the full line position, such slight movement, however, not being sufficient to cause the feeler to move the slide 27 and effect replenishment, and thereupon the toothed end of the auxiliary feeler 44 comes into play as indicated in Fig. 2 and engages the filling with a positive hold.

When, however, the filling has reached a condition of substantial exhaustion, as indicated in Fig. 4, even the toothed end portion of the auxiliary feeler fails to engage the filling with holding contact and by frontward pressure thereon the feeler will move in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and call for replenishment of filling.

The untoothed, smooth and rounded.engaging surface of the main feeler tip 41, therefore, acts normally to hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by frictional engagement with the filling without injurious effect thereon. Indeed, it is found in practice that the frictional engagement of the main feeler tip with the filling without penetration thereof may be advantageously employed with any kind of yarn or filling, even of delicate character, such as silk, for instance, and that the feeler, notwithstanding its tendency to move longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat, will be effectively restrained from such move ment by frictional engagement until the filling approaches substantial exhaustion, whereupon the toothed auxiliary tip comes into action, as indicated in Fig. 2, to positively hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle until on a detecting beat the filling is substantially exhausted and only suflieient remains to make the required number of picks and provide the requisite tension for the filling.

Filling bobbins wound with filling, as supplied from the spinning room, are sometimes defective in the wind, due to broken down ends or other causes. To meet this condition the feeler of the present invention has adjustably mounted thereon a bunter 50 which passes through a lug 51 on the feeler and is held in adjusted position by the nuts 52. The bunter has a head 53. The bunter 50 under normal conditions of weaving is adjusted frontwardly to such an extent that it does not come into operation either when using filling wound bobbins or cops. WVhen, however, it is found that the spinning room is supplying defective bobbins or cops, the bunter may be adjusted rearwardlv on the feeler to engage the side wall of the shuttle when the filling is merely exhausted and cause the feeler to move longitudinally along the filling carrier by frontward pressure on the bunter. The bunter, however, is merely a precautionary expedient to meet the condition of defective bobbins furnished by the spinning room and is ordinarily adjustd frontwardly so as not to operate or engage the shuttle on a detecting beat whether there be little or more filling in the shuttle.

In the-construction and relation of the .main and auxiliary feeler tips, as shown,

the former is provided with a recessed side portion 54 into which extends the laterally projecting toothed end 55 of the auxiliary feeler tip, and the toothed end portion of the auxiliary feeler tip is adjusted so as to be slightly frontward of the untoothed, smooth engaging surface of the main feeler. This construction is advantageous for some purposes, but tne invention, of course, is not necessarily restricted thereto.

What is claimed is:

' 1; In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle on a detecting beat in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and provided with an untoothed non-metallic tip which sinks bodily into the filling and by frictional engagement therewith prevents movement of the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier until thefilling approaches substantial exhaustion, and an auxiliary feeler tip mounted upon the feeler in noncontacting relation to the filling on a detecting beat until the untoothed non-metallic tip is displaced longitudinally along the filling carrier by the frontward pressiiire upon it and then engaging the remaining portion of the filling and holding the feeler from movement longitudinally along the filling carrier until the filling is substantially exhausted'.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle on a detecting beat in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and provided with an untoothed nonmetallic tip having a curved filling engaging surface which sinks bodily into the filling and by frictional engagement therewith prevents movement of the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier until the filling approaches substantial exhaustion, and an auxiliary feeler tip mounted upon the feeler in non-contacting relation to the filing on a detecting beat until the untoothed non-metallic tip is displaced longitudinally along the filling carrier by the front- ,W'ard pressure upon it and then engaging the remaining portion of the filling and holding the feeler from movement longitudinally along the filling carrier until the filling is substantially exhausted.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for move ment in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to call the change of filling and having a main untoothed V fillwhich frictional iug engaging I tip by engagement with the filling on a detectingbeat prevents movement of the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier until the filling approaches substantial 'exhaustion, an auxiliary feeler tip mounted upon and movable with the feeler to engage the holds the feeler from movement 'long'itudinally of the filling carrier. I

4-. A loom feeler mechanism having a side swipe feeler provided with a main untoothed tip which nominally engages the filling on a detecting beat and frictional'ly holds the feeler from ll'lOVGlflGllt longitudinally along the filling, and an' auxiliary feeler tip mounted on the feeler to engage the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat only when the main untoothed tip ly of the shuttle.

5. A loom feeler mechanism having a feeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and provided with a main untoothed frictional holding tip which normally engages the filling'on a detecting beat, and an auxiliary tip mounted on the feeler at one side of the main tin toothed tip to engage the filling inthe-shut tle and prevent premature movement of the moves longitudinalfeeler longitudinally of the shuttle when thje frictional hold of themain untoothedtip with a working supply of filling fails to do so. i

6. A loom feeler mechanism having a laterally movable feeler provided with main leather tip which normally engages the/filly ing on a detecting beat and fiictionally holds the feeler from movement flongitudih ally along the mass of filling, and anfa iixiliary tip secured to the feeler and provided with teeth to engage the filling should the main leather tip fail to'ho'ld the feelerfrom movement along the mass of filling.

7. A feeler mechanism-having a feele r with a main untoothed tip pr esenting a smooth surface curved in a directionlongitudinally of the shuttle for frictional hold-, ing engagement with the filling on a detecting beat, and an auxiliary feelertip secured to the feeler alongside of the main untoothed tip for holding engagementwith the filling should the frictional engagement j of the main untoothed tip with the filling fail to hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the filling carrier.

8. A loom feeler mechanism having afeel er mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and provided with a main untoothed frictional holding tip which normally engages the fillingon a detecting beat, and an auxiliary tip mounted on, the feeler at one side of the main un toothed tip to engage the filling only in case the main tip pren'iaturely slips along the filling, and means for relatively adjusting the two tips.

9. A feeler mechanism for-looms having:

a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and provided With a main nonmetallic frictional holding tip which sinks into but does not penetrate the filling mass on a detecting beat, and an auxiliary feeler tip mounted on the feeler at the side i of the main tip and having teeth which engage the filling When the main frictional holding tip fails to hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle due to the frontward pressure against it on a detecting beat.

10. A feeler mechanism for looms having a feeler to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and to be displaced laterally by the frontward pressure when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a tip carried by the feeler and inherently capable in its operative relation of gripping yarn on a filling carrier in the shuttle without penetrating therein but adapted to slip When it encounters a smooth and substantially unyielding surface on a detecting beat, said tip being" subjected to the full impact of the filling throughout its detecting action.

11. A f'eeler mechanism for looms having a feeler to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and to be displaced laterally by the front-- Ward pressure when the filling is substan tially exhausted on a detecting beat, a leather tip carried by the feeler and inherently capable in its operative relation of gripping yarn on a filling carrier in the shuttle Without penetrating therein but adapted to slip when it encounters a smooth and substantially unyielding surface on a detecting beat, said tip being subjected to the full impact of the filling throughout its detecting action.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

PATRICK J. HUNT. 

